Device and method for identifying modules in a graphics machine

ABSTRACT

A method for detecting a type of one of plurality of devices attached to a graphics machine, each device being one of at least a first type and a second type, the method comprising detecting at a controller the type of device attached to or to be attached to the machine. The controller is capable of preadjusting the device or machine as a function of the detection A graphics machine includes a controller, a first device connected to the controller, the first device being categorizable as one of at least a first type and a second type, the controller detecting the type of the first device, and a memory accessible by the controller, the memory storing information regarding the first type and the second type.

[0001] This claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/453,356, filed Mar. 10, 2003 and hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] The present invention relates to a device and method foridentifying modules used in graphics industry machines, such as folders,gatherers, printing presses and stitchers.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,653 discloses a system for addressinitialization of generic nodes in a distributed command and controlsystem for a transportation system and a related method. A distance isdetermined from the control unit to each node and a specific address isassigned to the node based on the relative location of the node.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An object of the present invention is to permit theidentification of different devices attached to a graphics machine.“Graphics machine” as defined herein includes any machine used in thegraphical industry.

[0005] The present invention provides a method for detecting a type ofone of plurality of devices attached to a graphics machine, each devicebeing one of at least a first type and a second type, the methodcomprising: detecting at a controller the type of device attached, to orto be attached, to the machine. The controller can pre-adjust the deviceor controller as a function of the detection.

[0006] Preferably, the device includes a type identifier, and anidentifier reader can be connected to the controller.

[0007] Preferably, the controller sends a control signal to the deviceas a function of the detection.

[0008] Preferably, the devices can be added or removed and replaced withother devices, i.e. the devices are modules. These modules may be forexample hoppers (feeders) for a binding line, such as a saddle back orflatback binding line. These feeders may be for example of differenttypes: horizontal feeders, vertical feeders, cover folder feeders, cardfeeders, CD inserters, gluepots, numbering units, or print pockets.Other examples of graphics machines are a printing press, a stacker, atrimmer, or a folder. For example, for a printing press a cloth-typeblanket washer or brush-type blanket washer could be identified, andthus the controller could identify the type of blanket washer andcontrol that washer accordingly. A type of ink fountain feeder could beidentified as well, for example an anilox inker. For a folder, differenttypes of cutoff controls or silicon applicators could be identified.

[0009] The machine preferably may run a self-test check upon eachturn-on of the machine to determine which devices are connected to themachine.

[0010] The present invention also provides a graphics machinecomprising: a controller; a first device connected to the controller,the first device being categorizable as one of at least a first type anda second type, the controller detecting the type of the first device;and a memory accessible by the controller, the memory storinginformation regarding the first type and the second type.

[0011] Preferably, the first device includes a type identifier, and themachine further comprises an identifier reader connected to thecontroller.

[0012] The controller preferably is capable of automatically adjustingthe first device as a function of the information.

[0013] Preferably, the information is stored as a table.

[0014] The first device may be connected to the controller via anelectrical plug, a fixed transmission line or a wireless connection.

[0015] Preferably, the graphics machine includes a second deviceconnected to the controller, the second device being one of the firsttype and the second type.

[0016] The first device preferably is modular, i.e. the first device isremovably connected to the controller and replaceable by another devicewhich is one of the first type and the second type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention is described with reference to thefollowing figures, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a saddle-back bindery having various modules detectedby a controller according to the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a plug connection for permitting identification ofthe device type;

[0020]FIG. 3 shows an end view of the plug connection of FIG. 2;

[0021]FIG. 4 shows an alternate plug connection;

[0022]FIG. 5 shows yet another alternate plug connection;

[0023]FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment with the device having avoltage source; and

[0024]FIG. 7 shows a digital signal generated in another embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025]FIG. 1 shows a saddle back conveyor line 10 for collecting printedproducts, which are then stitched by a stitching device 20. Atpredefined locations or stations along the conveyor line 10 are feedermodules, which as shown are a vertical feeder 12, a horizontal feeder14, a card inserter 16 and another vertical feeder 18. These feedermodules feed their respective products to the conveyor line 10 to form acollected printed product 30 which is then stitched by saddle backstitching device 20 to form a finished product 32. While the line hasbeen described with four stations, many more stations may be providedand other types of modules may be included, such as glue pots, numberingunits, CD inserters, cover folder feeders, print pockets, blown-in cardfeeders; hopper loaders, onset feeders, and stackers and trimmers, whichwould come after the stitching device.

[0026] These modules are interchangeable along the line, so that forexample card inserter 16 and horizontal feeder 14 might need to beswitched for a new printed product configuration.

[0027] Each module 12, 14, 16, 18 contains a type identifier 41, 42, 43,44, respectively to identify the type of module. An identifier reader51, 52, 53, 54 can determine, in conjunction for example with aprocessor 60 and a memory 61, the type provided by identifier 41, 42,43, 44, respectively. Each reader 51, 52, 53, 54 is connected by aninput 71, 72, 73, 74, respectively, to the processor 60, for example bya data bus.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, type identifier 41 may be a plug with aconfiguration unique to the type of device, for example a verticalfeeder or hopper 12. As shown in FIG. 3, plug 41 may have four pins,140, 141, 142, 143, with pin 140 providing power from reader 51. Reader51 provides power to pin 140 at a certain voltage and reads the voltageat each of the other pins 141, 142, 143. Connection from pin 140 to pins141, 142 and/or 143 in identifier 41 is provided via a connection 144during a manufacturing of the type identifier 41.

[0029] If reader 51 registers a voltage solely at pin 141, the reader51, which has a D-A converter can send a three-bit digital signal 001 tothe processor 60. A table stored in memory 61 can identify 001 as avertical feeder. The processor 60 then automatically may undertakecontrol steps, for example altering characteristics of a graphical userinterface or altering other devices on line 10, or of stitching device20 as a function of the type of device at the first location on the line10.

[0030] With the four pin configuration of identifier 41, eight differenttypes may be identified. No power read at pins 141, 142 and 143 couldidentify a horizontal feeder and lead to a 000 output byte, power at pin141 only a vertical feeder with a 001 output, at pin 142 only a cardinserter and a 010 output, at pin 143 only a CD inserter and a 011output, power at pins 141 and 142 only print pocket inserter and a 100output, power at pins 141, and 143 only a numbering unit and a 101output, power at pins 142 and 143 only a gluepot and a 110 output andpower at all three pins a blown in card feeder and a 111 output.

[0031] Thus memory 61 can contain a database such as a table, with 000identifying a horizontal feeder, 001 a vertical feeder and so on.Processor 60, which receives the bytes from the readers 51, 52, 53, 54at known inputs 71, 72, 73, 74 thus knows exactly which type of deviceis at which location on the line 10.

[0032] Alternately, the reader could provide direct inputs from the pins141, 142, 143 to the processor 60, with an A-D converter for each pinmerely providing a zero or one depending on power at the pin and theprocessor 60 processing the data from each pin 141, 143, 143 directly.In other words, part of the reader 51 functions may be accomplished bythe processor 60 and the processor 60 can sense the presence or absenceof power on each pin 141, 142, 143.

[0033] It should be noted that additional pins or fewer pins may beused, and the pins may be used for other functions as long as the usedoes not interfere with the identification process.

[0034]FIG. 4 shows an alternate type identifier 151 where a pin 151 maybe used to provide a control signal or power the module via a cable 156.A reader 153 provides a certain voltage or current at a pin 153, withcurrent flowing through a resistor 155. A voltage or current then isread at a pin 154 by the reader, this read voltage or current being afunction of the resistance of the resistor. The reader or processor canconvert this read voltage or current through an A-D converter into aunique digital signal, which via information stored in memory 61. Thusfor example a plug with a 1000 ohm resistor can identify one type ofdevice, and a plug with a 10K resistor another type of device. A largenumber of types thus can be identified using different resistanceresistors depending on the sensitivity and accuracy of the A-Dconverter.

[0035]FIG. 5 shows the same type identifier as in FIG. 4, without theextra pin 152. In this embodiment, the type identifier need not beconnected electrically to the module, and may simple be attached by achain 157, for example.

[0036] However, pin 152 may be advantageous for example to send acontrol signal back to the module, for example to preadjust the moduledepending on the type of module connected on line 10.

[0037] Controller 60 also can perform a self test at each start up ofthe line 10 to identify the components on line 10.

[0038]FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment in which the module 12 has avoltage source 112 connected to a type identifier 141. The voltagesource 112 provides a unique voltage depending on the type of module 12to a pin at identifier 241. The voltage which is read by reader 251 andsent to processor 60. For example 5 volts could indicate a verticalhopper, while 10 volts indicates a horizontal hopper, and thisinformation is stored in memory 61. The number of types of modules whichthen can be uniquely identified is a function of the range of voltageand sensitivity of an A-D converter.

[0039]FIG. 7 shows yet another alternate embodiment in which the typeidentifier provides a unique digital signal, provided via a plug with apin for the signal and one for ground and one for power, if the moduledoes not provide power. The signal may be sent to each digital input ofthe processor 60. For example, the signal may be provided continuouslyto the processor 60, so that presence of the module on line 10 is alwaysrecognized, and also accidental removal of the module 10 can also berecognized.

[0040]FIG. 7 shows an example of a 2 second signal sent by a chipprovided at the module 12. A start bit is provided for the firstcontinuous 400 milliseconds to identify the start of the signal, andthen 8 data bits are sent, thus providing for an eight byte word capableof identifying 255 unique types of modules. The bits are of 100millisecond duration followed by a 100 millisecond space. The signal maybe a 24dc volt signal, with 24 volts indicating an on and zero or lessthan a certain voltage below 24 volts indicating volts an off.

[0041] Additional bytes could be provided to identify the location ofthe module on the line, if each location did not provide a unique inputto the controller or processor 60, and thus a multiplexed signal couldbe provided to a single input at processor 60.

[0042] The value of the byte would be used via a table in memory 61 toidentify the type of module.

[0043] It should be noted that based on the type, the value of pileoverload switches, sensors, or inhibit selective modes may be identifiedor controlled by controller 60, and all of this information may bestored in memory 61.

[0044] The type identifier alternately may include a timer chip whichwould supply a digital signal of unique time duration based on the typeof module. The timer ship thus has a clock pulse combined with acounting circuit. The duration of the digital signal may then beidentified by processor 60 to determine the type of device. For example,a duration of 200 milliseconds could identify a vertical hopper and aduration of 400 milliseconds a horizontal hopper.

[0045] The type identifier alternately may be a tag read by an inductivefield as the module is mounted on the machine. Such a device ismanufactured for example by Pepperl and Fuchs (www.pepperl-fuchs.com)and consists of a read-write head and tags. The tags are powered up asthey pass the read-write head of the reader and send back up to 1 kbytes of data. The tags also can be written to by the read-write head toprovide the type identification.

[0046] The present invention thus allows proper machine control of themodules, and proper motion control. The method of the present inventionpermits the controller to deterministically identify the presence andtype of a particular module. Controller 60 may be an Intel-basedprocessor for example or a PLC.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for detecting a type of one of pluralityof devices attached to a graphics machine, each device being one of atleast a first type and a second type, the method comprising: detectingat a controller the type of device attached to or to be attached to themachine, the controller being capable of preadjusting the device ormachine as a function of the detection.
 2. The method as recited inclaim 1 wherein the device includes a type identifier, and an identifierreader can be connected to the controller.
 3. The method as recited inclaim 1 wherein the controller sends a control signal to the device as afunction of the detection.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1 whereinthe devices can be added or removed and replaced with other devices ofother types.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the devices arefeeders for a binding line.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1 whereinthe devices are printing press components.
 7. The method as recited inclaim 1 further comprising running a self-test check upon each turn-onof the machine to determine which devices are connected to the machine.8. A graphics machine comprising: a controller; a first device connectedto the controller, the first device being categorizable as one of atleast a first type and a second type, the controller detecting the typeof the first device; and a memory accessible by the controller, thememory storing information regarding the first type and the second type.9. The machine as recited in claim 8 wherein the first device includes atype identifier, and the machine further comprises an identifier readerconnected to the controller.
 10. The machine as recited in claim 8wherein the controller automatically adjusts the first device as afunction of the information.
 11. The machine as recited in claim 8wherein the information is stored as a table.
 12. The machine as recitedin claim 8 wherein the first device is connected to the controller viaan electrical plug, a fixed transmission line or a wireless connection.13. The machine as recited in claim 8 wherein the graphics machineincludes a second device connected to the controller, the second devicebeing one of the first type and the second type.
 14. The machine asrecited in claim 8 wherein the first device is modular.
 15. The machineas recited in claim 8 wherein the controller has a plurality of inputs,each input identifying a particular location of the machine.
 16. Themachine as recited in claim 9 wherein the type identifier is a plughaving a input power pin and at least one other pin, the first type orsecond type being identified by a connection between the power pin andthe other pin.
 17. The machine as recited in claim 16 wherein the inputpower pin and the other pin are separated by a resistor.
 18. The machineas recited in claim 16 wherein the at least one other pin includes twoother pins, the type being determined by the presence or absence ofpower at the other pins when power is supplied to the input power pin.19. The machine as recited in claim 10 wherein the type identifiersupplies a digital signal.